Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join with Senator O'Toole in calling for a debate on incineration, an issue about which there has been much misinformation and confusion over the past few years. We would benefit from a balanced debate, with all of the facts, in which we can explore the many positive aspects that are associated with incineration, and the negative ones, and form an opinion on it going forward.

In asking the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come before the House we could finally deal with the issue of the review of local government funding, which has been ongoing. While I welcome the increased allocation to the local government fund, it should be reviewed if needed because serious reform is necessary so local government can be financed in a more sustainable and fair manner.